When did the Ordovician mass extinction occur?

When did the Ordovician mass extinction occur?

443.8 million years ago

What caused the Ordovician mass extinction and when did it happen?

Around 443 million years ago, 85% of all species on Earth went extinct in the Ordovician-Silurian extinction. The extinction was a most likely a result of global cooling and reduced sea levels, which dramatically impacted the many marine species living in warm, shallow coastal waters.

When did the Ordovician period start and end?

485.4 (+/- 1.9) million years ago – 443.8 (+/- 1.5) million years ago

What caused the end of Ordovician extinction?

The evidence indicates that climate change caused the extinctions. A major ice age is known to have occurred in the southern hemisphere and climates cooled world-wide. The first wave of extinctions happened as the climate became colder and a second pulse occurred as climates warmed at the end of the ice age.

What died in the Devonian extinction?

It was the age of fish. Throughout the oceans species began dying out, and by the time it was all over between 79% and 87% of all species had gone extinct – including Dunkleosteus. It was one of the worst mass extinctions in Earth’s history.

What life survived the Devonian extinction?

Numerous brachiopods became extinct, conodonts all but disappeared, and only one family of trilobites survived. In total, over 70% of species living in the Devonian no longer existed in the Carboniferous Period.

How bad was the Devonian extinction?

The Late Devonian extinction refers to one or more extinction events in the Late Devonian Epoch, which collectively represent one of five largest mass extinction events in the history of life on Earth. Overall, 19% of all families and 50% of all genera became extinct.

Is there anything older than dinosaurs?

Looking at a millipede today gives you a glimpse into the distant history of life on Earth. Millipede-like creatures were among the first oxygen-breathing animals known to have lived on land. Fossils of these ancient millipedes are much older than those of dinosaurs, dating back over 400 million years.